PASCO, Wash.-Two Pasco based companies will pay out $470,000 to settle claims of sexual abuse and harassment against female farmworkers.
Greenridge Farms and Baker Produce reached the settlement to resolve the civil rights lawsuit brought by the State Attorney General’s Office that alleged multiple instances of assault and harassment, including rape against Antonio Garcilazo
Greenridge and Baker are two large-scale farming operations that violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination by subjecting female employees to sexual harassment and retaliating against employees who rejected Garcilazo’s advances, according to the AG Office’s lawsuit.
The assault and harassment happened from 2018, until Garcilazo was fired in 2024.
“These companies knew that this manager was harassing and assaulting their employees, but did not stop it,” Ferguson said. “He abused his authority over these women for sexual favors.”
The AG’s Office became aware of the allegations against Greenridge and Baker when four women came forward in 2023 with allegations of harassment and rape.
One worker reported multiple rapes and assaults over several years, including taking her to isolated locations like fields or orchards to rape her, according to the AG’s Office.
The assaults also reportedly included physical abuse, including hitting the victim and pulling her hair.
The rapes were reported to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the case was forwarded to the County Prosecutor’s Office for potential charges, however, no charges have been filed yet, according to the AG’s Office.
A second victim was fired shortly after filing a complaint and a third victim was reportedly given poor performance reviews after refusing the sexual advances of Garcilazo.
A consent decree filed in Benton-Franklin Superior Court bars Greenridge Farms and Baker Produce from rehiring Garcilazo, according to the AG’s Office.
The settlement also requires the companies to institute new anti-discrimination and sexual harassment policies within 60 days that encourage employees to come forward with complaints.
“I spoke up so that no other women would be harmed,” said one of the four women who reported the abuse. “We raised our voices and succeeded in preventing sexual harassment.
